Monday 30 July 2012

[cobirds] Lincoln county --- YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON (7/29/12)

COBirders,

Yesterday, Bill Maynard and I did a follow-up survery for Black Rails on the TNC leased Brett Gray Ranch.  Access by arrangement only.  We were unable to detect any Black Rails.  Unfortunately, the ranch has received almost no rain all summer and is extremely dry.  One of the large ponds has completely dried up and part of the creek has dried up.  The grasslands were almost non-existent in most places.

We did have some expected migrants for this time of year out on the plains.  Quite a few CHIPPING SPARROWs, LARK SPARROWs and at least two WILLOW FLYCATCHERs.  I should note, we also had local Lark Sparrows still feeding young.  We also had at least two RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHes.  On the waterbird side of things we had SOLITARY SANDPIPER, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, LESSER YELLOWLEGS, BAIRD'S SANDPIPERs and WILSON'S PHALAROPEs.  Two BLACK TERNs worked the pond while there were at least three BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONs and a single juvenile YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON.

 
-----
Mark Peterson
Colorado Springs

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